Friday 4 January 2013

THE COULOIR, COIRE AN LOCHAIN

Coire an Lochain

The Couloir on the left hand side
Looking down The Couloir
The pinnacle at the top
Looking across to Macdui and Braeriach
Climbers at the top of Jacob's Ladder
The Cairngorms were the place to be today if you wanted sunshine, views and still plenty of snow. I had a great day out in Coire an Lochain and climbed The Couloir. This is the obvious wide gully in the centre  the main crag and is only a Grade 1 but as wonderful scenery all the way up and a terrific finish just by a pinnacle before landing you at the plateau. It's been very warm the last few days but the coire is holding snow well and the loch itself still as ice in it. The snow is pretty much soft all the way up but this didn't detract from the day. The easy gullies are probably the only things worth climbing just now. A stiff Cairngorm 'breeze' was blowing today but nothing like we had a few days ago. I just reached the plateau when the sun broke through and it was a fab afternoon, feeling very Spring like! There are now big patches of bare ground on the plateau but still enough snow cover as I spotted a group of ski tourers having fun. Coire Domhain is looking good still for snow holing. There were parties climbing Alladin's Couloir and Jacob's Ladder as I strolled back down. Looking dry and sunny over next couple of days in The Cairngorms, The place to be!

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